WHAT TO
WHERE TO
WHEN TO
KEEP STORE SHRED what to do with important documents
ORIGINALS RARELY NEEDED: STORE IN Adoption Papers Safe-deposit box SSN Card & Citizenship Papers Safe-deposit box Divorce Decree Safe-deposit box Legal & Business Documents Safe-deposit box Household Inventory Safe-deposit box Photos of Possessions Safe-deposit box Military Discharge Safe-deposit box Veteran Papers Safe-deposit box ORIGINALS OCCASIONALLY NEEDED: STORE IN Birth & Death Certificates In-home safe Cemetery Deed In-home safe Real Estate Deeds In-home safe Passport Locked cabinet Educational Records In-home safe Guardianship Arrangements In-home safe Health & Immunization Records In-home safe Will & Power of Attorney In-home safe Marriage License In-home safe Medical Directive In-home safe Naturalization Certification In-home safe TAX DOCUMENTS: STORE IN Bank Statements Locked cabinet Cancelled Checks Locked cabinet Credit Card Statements Locked cabinet Home Purchase/Improvement Locked cabinet Tax returns/supportive info Locked cabinet INVESTMENT DOCUMENTS: STORE IN Annuity Contracts Locked cabinet Loan Agreements Locked cabinet Pension Plan Documents Locked cabinet Investment Account Statements Locked cabinet
SHRED Never discard Never discard Never discard Never discard Never discard Never discard Never discard Never discard SHRED Never discard Never discard 10 years after sale Never discard Never discard Never discard Never discard Never discard Never discard New one signed Never discard SHRED 7 years 7 years 7 years 7 yrs after home sold 7 yrs after filing date
COPIES TO Lawyer, Executor Executor Lawyer Lawyer Financial Advisor Financial Advisor
COPIES TO
Executor Heir Executor
Executor/Guardian Doctor Executor Executor Doctor, Heir COPIES TO
SHRED COPIES TO Annuity paid out Financial Advisor 10 yrs after loan payoff Never discard Financial Advisor 7 years after last investment is sold
DIGITALY SAVED DOCUMENTS: Don’t just delete files. For PCs: Experts advise purchasing software that overwrites files and permanently erases individual files to ensure your files cannot be retrieved. For Macs: select “Secure Empty Trash” on the Finder menu to permanently erase files. When disposing of an old computer or device, “wipe” or reset your device to factory settings to remove all files and saved settings. Lastly, set a strong password for all your devices.